Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine urges Georgians to use caution with holiday cooking, and when they heat up leftovers on the stove after the holidays are over.

“We’ve had eight fatalities in Georgia so far this year in which the cause of the fire was cooking-related,” Oxendine said. “Over the years we have seen many fires caused by a stove that has been accidentally left on. If neglected, a stove can heat a pan to the point that the metal melts.”

Oxendine suggested the following tips for cooking safety:

Always set a timer when cooking, so you never forget to turn off the burners or oven.

If a pan catches fire, cover it with a lid immediately and turn off the burner. Don’t attempt to fight a grease fire with water, as it may make the fire worse.

Wear tight-fitting sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can contact a burner and ignite. If this happens, remember “stop, drop and roll.” Stop where you are, cover your face with your hands, and roll over to smother the flames.

Never use a cooking stove to heat your home.

Install an adequate number of smoke alarms. Most fatal fires start between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., while the family is asleep. The advance warning of a smoke alarm may mean the difference between life and death. Nine out of ten fire victims are already dead before the fire department is even called, mainly from smoke and toxic gases.

Each household should have a well-rehearsed family escape plan.

All rooms, especially bedrooms, should have two escape routes. Have a predetermined meeting place outside the house to ensure everyone is out safely.

Have a fire extinguisher readily available. The dry chemical kind of extinguisher is usually safe for both grease and electrical fires. If a small fire is caught in time, you may be able to quickly put it out.

If the fire is too large for an extinguisher, get out of the house and stay out. Do not go back inside. Call the fire department from a neighbor’s house.

Home fryers are an increasingly popular method of cooking turkeys. Commissioner Oxendine recommends the following safety tips when cooking with these appliances:

Always use turkey fryers outdoors, well away from combustible decks and buildings. Choose a flat, stable surface.

Do not overfill fryers with oil; follow manufacturer’s recommendations.

Use the thermometer provided with your turkey fryer. Do not heat oil above the temperature recommended by the manufacturer.

Do not move turkey fryer during operation or while oil is hot. Cool oil completely before removing oil from fryer.

Keep children and pets away from turkey fryers. Never leave turkey fryers unattended.

Thaw turkeys completely before cooking.

In case of fire, do not attempt to extinguish with water; call the fire department immediately.